Alexandre Bilodeau helping to raise $1M for adapted sports centre

'It bothers me when these kids don't have what they need,' says Bilodeau

Bilodeau is helping to raise $1 million for MacKay's adapted sports programs. (Radio-Canada)

Natalie NanowskiReporter, CBC Toronto

Natalie is a storyteller who spent the last few years in Montreal covering everything from politics to corruption and student protests. Now that she’s back in her hometown of Toronto, she is eagerly rediscovering what makes this city tick, and has a personal interest in real estate and investigative journalism. When she’s not reporting you can find her at a yoga studio or exploring Queen St. Contact Natalie: natalie.nanowski@cbc.ca

"There are special techniques, special ways to dribble. Of course you can't use your feet to shoot. But the chair is your legs, so you gotta push. Just like you would if you would walk, it's the same."

Tristan Lessard0:28

Lessard says the services at the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre have helped him and he was excited to learn that two-time Olympic gold medalist, Alexandre Bilodeau, is backing the centre.

"It bothers me when these kids don't have what they need to be socially integrated," says Bilodeau.

"Sports is a way of getting them socially integrated."

Helping to raise $1 million for MacKay's adapted sports programs is a personal goal for Bilodeau.

His older brother Frédéric was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was a toddler. Seven years ago, Bilodeau and his family realized that Frédéric wasn't going to be able to ski with them anymore because his feet weren't straight enough to fit in his boots.

Bilodeau says his brother was the only one who accepted the reality with ease.